Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) is set to revolutionise healthcare on the Sunshine Coast and offer a range of new and expanded free public hospital services.

Located on a 20 hectare green-field site at Kawana, the SCUH will offer a range of new and expanded services, meaning fewer people having to travel to Brisbane to receive care. The hospital will open with about 450 beds in 2017, and will grow to 600 beds by 2018 as part of the 20-hectare Kawana integrated health campus being delivered under a Public Private Partnership. Approximately 1800 jobs were created during the peak of construction activity, with about 11,000 workers inducted on the site over the life of the project.

This tertiary teaching hospital is being delivered using a Public Private Partnership (PPP) delivery model. Lend Lease, as a member of the Exemplar Health Consortium, are working with Queensland Health in delivering this $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) to meet growing demand.

Lend Lease SCUH project director Mark Buckle said 55% of the jobs awarded on the project had gone to Sunshine Coast companies and 85% to south-east Queensland businesses. “Contracts awarded to Sunshine Coast companies include site fencing, general site establishment works, metalworks construction site signage, erosion and sediment control, earthworks and general crane supply,” he explained. Mayor Mark Jamieson said given the pressure on the Coast construction industry it was “very important” contracts stayed local.

AMA were proud to be one of these local contractors who worked on the SCUH for over 2 years as an integral part of the project. Sam Bevis, General Manager at AMA, said, “There were multiple design challenges interfacing with so many other trades - and combining that with construction stages over a large period of time also presented a challenge. We had to work closely with multiple Lend Lease site engineers, and other trades onsite to ensure there were no clashes”. Sam continued. “We were extremely humbled and excited that Lend Lease partnered with us to help deliver the SCUH. We got to design some very unique and innovative products that will be used for many years to come”. A challenge that AMA took head on with enthusiasm and commitment. Resulting in a recently operational state of the art medical facility for the population of the Sunshine Coast and surrounds.

To Sam and the team, working on the SCUH was more than just a project, “We have made many great relationships throughout the project lifecycle, and learned many lessons. We look forward to continuing to strengthening our relationship with Lend Lease well into the future”